U.S. and Saudi Arabia support 242 and 338 UN
resolutions Saudi Arabia-USA, Politics,
11/9/1999
The United States and Saudi Arabia "pledged to continue to work
together to promote peace and prosperity in the region and
throughout the world," following the visit to the U.S. by Prince
Sultan bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, Minister of Defense and Second
Deputy Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, an official US statement said
yesterday.
Prince Sultan visited Washington, D.C., November
1-4 at the invitation of Secretary of Defense William Cohen to
discuss topics of mutual interest and concern, including the close
cooperation of the two governments, particularly military and
economic cooperation, State Department Spokesman James Rubin
said.
In a joint statement released November 5, the United
States and Saudi Arabia agreed that "high-level military contact and
joint military training enhance preparedness and help sustain
security and peace in the Middle East and throughout the
world."
The two sides "pledged to cooperate fully in
continuing efforts to secure a comprehensive, just and lasting peace
in the Middle East based on Security Council Resolutions 242 and
338, the principle of land for peace, and the results of the Madrid
Conference" and "expressed hope for rapid progress toward the goal
of comprehensive peace."
The US statement added that the two
sides also:
-- Agreed to continue cooperation to enhance
trade and investment between the two countries.
-- Agreed
Iraq must comply with its obligations under the relevant
resolutions, and that the British/Dutch draft resolution on Iraq,
now under consideration by the UN Security Council, provides the
best means of enhancing humanitarian assistance for the Iraqi people
and containing the threat posed by the Iraqi regime.
--
Welcome Iran's stated goal of improving relations with other states
in the region, and statements by Iranian officials condemning
terrorism.
-- Underscored the danger and threat that
terrorism constitutes for international security and
stability.
-- Agreed that it is not appropriate to link Islam
to terrorist acts.
Following is the text of Rubin's
statement:
(begin text)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
For Immediate Release November 5,
1999 99/993
Statement by James P. Rubin, Spokesman U.S. and
Saudi Arabia Joint Statement
His Royal Highness Prince Sultan
bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, Minister of Defense and Second Deputy Prime
Minister of Saudi Arabia visited Washington D.C. from November 1 -
4, 1999 at the invitation of Secretary of Defense William Cohen.
During the visit Prince Sultan met with President Clinton, Secretary
of State Albright, his counterpart, Secretary of Defense Cohen and a
number of senior officials in the Administration. In his meetings,
Prince Sultan was accompanied by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud
Al-Faisal, Prince Bandar bin Sultan al-Saud, Ambassador of the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United States, Minister of Commerce
Osama Faqih, and Minister of State Musaid Al-Eiban. Members of the
delegation also met with Secretary of Commerce Daley and USTR
Ambassador Barshefsky.
The visit is in the framework of the
close, strong and historic relations between the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia and the United States of America stretching back more than
half a century to President Franklin Roosevelt and King Abd al-Aziz.
It reflects the desire of both governments to have regular
high-level consultations to assure coordination of policies that
affect mutual interests.
The two sides discussed topics of
mutual interest and concern, including the close cooperation of the
two governments, particularly military and economic cooperation.
Both the United States and Saudi Arabia agreed that continuing
high-level military contact and joint military training enhance
preparedness and help sustain security and peace in the Middle East
and throughout the world. The two countries pledged to continue to
work together to promote peace and prosperity in the region and
throughout the world.
The United States and Saudi Arabia
reviewed the current state of the international economy. Both sides
agreed on the need to continue to consult closely on these issues
and to continue cooperation to enhance trade and investment between
the two countries. Both sides reiterated their desire to support and
broaden the economic partnership between the private sector in the
two countries and to remove obstructions to the development and flow
of trade between the two countries and to facilitate the entry of
their products into the market of the other. Both sides expressed
their desire to initiate discussions on an agreement that encourages
and protects investment in the two countries. The United States
expressed its support for Saudi Arabia's accession to the World
Trade Organization, and both sides looked forward to increasing
trade opportunities and further integration into the global economy
which will flow from Saudi Arabia's membership in that organization.
Both sides agreed to continue their efforts to complete these
important economic negotiations as soon as possible. The American
side welcomed continued Saudi efforts to enforce measures for
protecting intellectual property rights and looked forward to
further progress. The two sides renewed their intentions to consult
fully and cooperate on the issues related to global climate change
and will continue to assure that measures taken in this regard are
based on the state of scientific evidence and data. They stressed
the need to encourage technical cooperation and scientific research
in the fields of water; agricultural standards, regulations and
policies; and specification and measurements.
The two sides
stressed the vital and strategic importance of the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia in the world oil market, and the United States reiterated its
recognition of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a secure and reliable
supplier of energy resources, especially to the United
States.
Both sides pledged to cooperate fully in continuing
efforts to secure a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the
Middle East based on Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, the
principle of land for peace, and the results of the Madrid
Conference. The United States updated Prince Sultan on the
President's meetings with Prime Minister Barak and Chairman Arafat
in Oslo, and our commitment to assist the parties achieve a
permanent status agreement within the tight deadlines they have set
for themselves. The two sides also discussed efforts to reinvigorate
the Syrian and Lebanese tracks of the peace process, as well as the
multilateral track. Both sides expressed hope for rapid progress
toward the goal of comprehensive peace.
Saudi Arabia
expressed its full support for the peace process efforts exerted by
the United States and underscored its willingness to support
Palestinian aspirations.
During their discussions on Iraq,
the two sides agreed Iraq must comply with its obligations under the
relevant resolutions, and that the British/Dutch draft resolution on
Iraq, now under consideration by the UN Security Council, provides
the best means of enhancing humanitarian assistance for the Iraqi
people and containing the threat posed by the Iraqi regime. They
agreed that Iraq continues to constitute a standing threat to peace
and stability in the Gulf region. Both sides expressed their shared
concern that the Government of Iraq's actions continue to cause
suffering among the Iraqi people. They also agreed the Gulf region
would never be truly secure as long as Saddam Hussein remains in
power in Iraq, the US statement said.
